Join us as Destiny Morris sheds light on:

• Unique Challenges: Understanding the specific mental health hurdles that first responders face.





• Importance of Therapy: Why specialized therapy is essential and how it can make a difference.





• Stigma and Cultural Shifts: Addressing the mental health stigma and the positive changes underway in the community.





• EMDR and Trauma Processing: Discover the role of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in helping first responders process traumatic experiences.





• Emotional Processing: Learn about the critical need for emotional processing and how to identify signs of emotional overload.





• Supporting Colleagues: Practical advice on how to support teammates in distress.

First responders are often considered a communities heroes, but who helps the helpers? In our latest podcast episode, we dive deep into the critical but often overlooked topic of mental health support for firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and other emergency personnel. Our special guest, Destiny Morris, a licensed therapist specializing in first responder mental health, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this important conversation.

The mental health challenges faced by first responders are unique and often misunderstood. As Destiny explains, first responders experience repeated exposure to traumatic events, maintain high-stress responsibility for others’ lives, and operate within a culture that has historically valued stoicism over emotional expression. This combination creates a perfect storm for mental health challenges that require specialized care. One powerful metaphor Destiny shares is the “cabinet” concept – first responders are taught to compartmentalize their emotions by putting them in a mental cabinet to function effectively during emergencies, but they’re rarely taught how to safely remove and process these emotions afterward.

The stigma surrounding mental health in first responder communities remains a significant barrier to seeking help. Many fear being seen as weak or unfit for duty if they acknowledge struggling with their mental health. Destiny highlights how this stigma manifests in statements like “I signed up for this job, I should be able to handle it” or “therapy is a waste of time.” These misconceptions prevent many from accessing the support they desperately need. Encouragingly, Destiny notes a positive shift in recent years, with younger first responders more willing to seek preventative mental health support rather than waiting until they’re in crisis.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy emerges as a particularly effective treatment modality for first responders dealing with trauma. Destiny provides a clear explanation of how EMDR works, comparing traumatic memories to “black marbles” that need to be reprocessed and integrated into normal memory storage. This therapy helps